In this section, we will cover the importance of learning hangeul in Korean. The first most important step to get your Korean learning journey started.
Stay tuned until the end to have access to a free guide to help you get started on learning Hangeul (한글)
Romanisation: a poor substitute
When starting to learn Korean, many beginners are tempted to rely on romanisation, which is the practice of representing Korean sounds with the Latin alphabet.
Indeed, when wanting to read a word, this is what they’ll see:
학교 (hak-kyo) = school
but this is what they should be seeing:
학교 = school
While romanisation may seem convenient at first, it has significant drawbacks:
- Inaccuracy: Korean sounds don’t always have direct equivalents in English (or other romanised languages). It often simplifies or distorts the sounds, leading to improper pronunciation. For example, the Korean sound "ㄹ" doesn’t perfectly match “r” or “l” in English, yet romanization often forces learners to choose one.
- Hinders Progress: Relying on romanisation prevents learners from developing fluency in Korean. Korean is built around its writing system, and sticking to it can feel like learning “Korean through English”, slowing progress in the long run.
The Power of Hangeul: A Scientific and Simple Alphabet
Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was created in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and his scholars. Its design is intuitive, logical, and optimized for representing Korean sounds. Learning Hangeul allows you to:
- Pronounce Accurately: By learning Hangeul, you can read Korean words exactly as they’re meant to sound.
- Access Korean Media: Understanding Hangeul opens the door to Korean books, signs, menus, websites, and more.
- Build Confidence: Mastering the writing system is a crucial first step toward fluency, giving you the tools to communicate effectively.
- Connect with Culture: Hangeul is deeply tied to Korean history and identity, making it a gateway to understanding the culture.
Easy to learn, hard to forget
Hangeul is widely regarded as one of the easiest writing systems to learn, taking as little as a few hours to grasp the basics. Its design is simple yet powerful, making it a perfect starting point for anyone learning Korean.